I attended close to 200 shows from 1973 -1995 (and I'm still going), including some of the so-called greatest ever. 5/8/77 (everyone raves about it-it was great, but I saw several shows that matched it) comes to mind, among others. I never could understand comparing the '60s to the '70s and so forth. I was in awe of their ability even on their off nights. I was aware of the effect smoking too much heroin & cocaine had on the vocals in the early '80s, but I didn't mind too much. I did find myself saying more than once, "Jerry, shut up and play!" My point is, I went to the shows to listen, dance and enjoy myself, and I always did enjoy myself. As long as others do it, I believe the late '80s up until Brent left us was when they were at their best musically. That's my opinion, and it only has true worth to me. I attended this show, I enjoyed myself thoroughly, have had the tapes since 8/87, and now I'm happy to have the discs. The music critics out there need not be insulted. "It's your thing, do what you want to do. I can't tell you who to sock it to." It's not my thing. I look forward to seeing upstaters at Magic City on 7/18. I guarantee that I'll enjoy it.

I realize jboy can be a bit…shall we say….over-analytical, but he very often hit’s the nail on the head when it comes to reviews. I’ve seen so many shows (probably 150 or so) and just about everything jboy says when it comes to the shows I’ve seen is very accurate and keenly observant. His review of this show is no different. If you’ve been to enough shows, and witnessed the pinnacle of the Dead’s energy and magic, then his critique of this Centrum show is right on. I thought it was a great freaking show (most were), but relatively speaking, jboy is correct here. I walked out of this show with a big smile on my face, but I didn’t walk out shouting; “Holy Shit!….Holy Shit!…What the hell did I just see?” That only happened once in a blue moon, but because it did happen (albeit rarely), that is what brought me (us) back for more….hoping to see it again. It didn’t happen at this show, though the show was still awesome.

One year ago today was the last review of this show. Just starting it now. I streamed the VBR MPU, and instead of Touch Of Grey for the first track, I get 21 seconds of alien hypnotic transmission talk. What gives?

Great show on paper, we'll see where it goes. My rating is purely based on the look and feel of how the songs lineup.

~ EJB

I was also at this show and it was certainly a smoker. Globals anybody????

Some Highlights...

Jerry smiling and waving to the crowd at the end of Touch. Cassidy, Box (it ALWAYS rains on April 4th!) and Promised wrapped it up nicely.

2nd Set Comes a Time, Playin, Willy is relatively exotic.

...is 4th down in the 192 kb/sec .mp3 column. All the other SHNs are in the first column. Just look at the filepath displayed in the status bar when your mouse hovers over a file, you'll find it eventually. :-)

I was just listening to the Miller FM seed of 3/31/87, and this sounds very close to it and other FM's of the period. Excellent quality, and from the files I've downloaded so far, sounds like a great show!

That's the only Comes a Time I ever heard live, and has always been my favorite version on tape. In fact I think I would call it "exactly beautiful". I'm afraid jboyaquar was tripping harder when he wrote his review than I was at the show. I still had my wits about me enough to know it was a great one. Set 1 is good, not great, but gets better; but Set 2 rocks. Birdsgosouth is right on. Not my all-time favorite Morning Dew but right up there. This show is well worth the headache youâÂÂre going to get from downloading it.

what's up with the way this is organized?

the sound quality is great, performance is very good through playing reprise. the dew is lukewarm. jboyaguar still needs to shut up.

3 star because of not being able to download in sequence and review the first set appropriately.

Sorry Jonesin. I don't think it works that way. This is a community and the tour lore is a very big part of IT! In addition to the music, the lore adds some very important color to the long gone dimension of time and space. IMHO the personal exploits are far more amusing, at times, than some of these wordy, grandiose and self absorbed reviews. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are kidding. Rock-on Jonesin!

A real nice audience recording, the instruments are well balanced and the crowd is well behaved. Too bad the Touch Of Grey opener is missing.

Made this trip from RI w/o my usual partner in crime who was sick. I had his ticket and figured I'd sell it. Got there and was...intrigued...by this girl holding a sign. What the hell - we stepped into a van. No time to lose. Show closing in. Long story short: don't judge a book by it's cover, I wound up politely declining, gave her the ticket anyway, and the show smoked.

This is a 5 no question. Giving this a 3 is shockingly stupid. The place busts loose like the second night in Fall '83 which was ridiculous.

dude, YOU'RE livin on crack with that review. Had this tape since that year, a frickin smoker. The second set is as good as it looks. If the hand jive doesn't get you moving, you're dead. No the Dew is not 5/8/77 but it's a good one.
For 1987, this is a 5 star show.

1st Set: "Touch" is chipper despite some manly strength Not present in Jerry's voice. C'mon Bobby, pick me up and ride me on your wave, Bobby..."Greatest" is pleasant tho not monumental like I was hoping...:( "Althea" gets a yawn. "El Paso" just doesn't come together all that well. "Tennessee"'s fine, but continues the unnecessary trend. "Cassidy" picks up some steam, and features some sharp if not emotionally overpowering jamming. "Never Trust" sounds neutered, but affords Brent a chance to drop a 'f-bomb' here and there. Technical problems allow for a "We Want Phil" chant from which they respond with a "Box." It's rather polite, as is the 'don't mean to disturb ya' "Promised" closer.

2nd Set: A lively "Iko" opens up proceedings with a pronouncing "Playin" to follow. It's active but never quite reaches outer space... Alright, a semi-rarity pops its head..."Comes" is not exactly beautiful, but Garcia's trying, and that's all that really matters. "Hind Jive" is nicely fleshed out, and a keen change of selection from the "Man Smart" spot. It also displays a willingness to pull the proverbial rabbit out of thin air, anything can happen or be played at a GD show. For instance, now the anticipation grows out of "Drums/Space" as minor chord teases of several songs keep us wondering...will they choose this? Indeed, it is "Truckin" a good sing-along version. Jane's living on 'crack' tonight. A straight-ahead rockin' "Playing Reprise" follows. "Morning Dew" has quite a bit of muster and force behind its buildup, but falls apart before the audience can feel its awe-inspiring aura.
Of course, it's "Saturday Night" Solid but Mydland's too strong in the mix.

A stronger show than 4-6-87.

I was sitting in the absolute farthest seat from the stage and thought I was watching Pure Prairie League until I heard someone yell "Jerrrrryyyy" and I was pretty sure no one in PPL is named Jerry. Rained like hell that night.

A magical night - my first show. We made the trip up from NYC and I had been listening to the GD for a few years. Was going to go to the fall '86 tour, and after Jerry's illness, I never thought I'd get to see the band live. So, tripping my face off at 16 years old, I caught this show and got lucky - the final version of "Handjive," the rare "Comes A Time," "Box of Rain," tech problems, the "We Want Phil" chant, "Morning Dew." What more could a kid ask for for his first show? Great memories and a great performance. AND, Jerry was even doing a little dancing during "Iko." He seemed as psyched as I was that night.

The guy in front of me got the last ticket at Ticketmaster for this show and I was pissed.

This is a beauty. Love it! had the Playin>Comes>Jive on tape back in high school and played it to death. If you are into 80's dead- this is a must. A gem from start to finish

Yes, I personally *willed* the Comes A Time into existence out Playin' that night. I *really* *did*. Independent sources will confirm that I called it several hours before the show.

The smoking Hand Jive was all the boys, however...

One othe note--although I rate it 5 stars here, the way Dew fizzles out at the end (and just when it's building up so nicely, too :( ) is a bit of a bummer, but it smokes all the way up to that point.

I don't think I can give 5 stars to anything after 1979, but this is a great late 80's show. I'm biased, because I had a great time at this show, but I had a great time mostly because it was a great, high-energy show. Probably my favorite show that I was at. I could be totally wrong, but I seem to remember that my friend Thierry and I started the "we want Phil" chant...

What a run ! Worcester 87 was a barn burner. 4/2, 4/3 & 4/4 are prime 1987 dead. These shows were just before the release of "In the Dark" & the summer tour with Dylan. The "Mega-dead" were about to awake!!

in a year FILLED with incredible, high-energy shows, this one ranks way, way up there...
the great AUD lets you really enjoy this one, I guarantee you'll listen to this second set over and over again....
Iko, Comes a Time, Hand Jive, Dew....everything about this show is 5-star, and just wait for Truckin'....it'll get you singing along and your heart pumping!
Enjoy